Collapsible box.



I a -M W. RAWLEY. COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 23. 1914.

1,186,497. Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. ms COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH co WASHINGTON, D. A;

W. RAWLEY.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 23. 1914.

l 1 86,497. Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M E IIQ 3 e 5 1r e I 2| INVENTOR w. RAWLEY. COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATIONFILED MAR. 23, 1914- Patented June 6, 1916. 4 $HEETSSHEET 3. II 4g v 'i:.0o 6

n TINVENTOR ATTORNEY.-

IHB coLuMum PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON, n. c-

W. RAWLEY. COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLlCATlbN EILED MAR. 23. l9l4. 1 186 497,Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- WITNESSES INVENTOR W W ATTORNEY!- UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE. v

WAYNE EAWLEY, or PITTsBUEGH, rENNs'YLvANI'A, ASSIGNOR To ELAW STEELCONSTRUCTION COMPANY, or Ho'BoKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, A, coRPoRaT oN E EWJERSEY.

COLLAPSIBLE iaox.

Patented June 6, 1916.

Application fil ed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,493.

The object in view is the provision of an inexpensive, light-weight box,which when set up or extended will properly protect its contents bothfrom damage. from rough usage and from the weather and which may beknocked down or collapsed for return shipment or storage into smallcompass. The wooden boxes now in general use for shipping pianos afterone use are thrown aside while a suitable collapsible box may be usedoverand over again. For the accomplishment of thesepurposes in view, Iprovide a. box comprising hinged together elements or portions,eachportion being composed of a strong and rigid, yet light frame ofangled or flanged metal bars with a filling of stout sheet material,such'as fiber-board, to protect the piano fromrough usage and theweather. The filling of the bottom element is preferably composed ofsheet or plate metal for the sake of strength,

The methods of .foldingthe elements together into compact form and ofhinging the same together are novel, as are also the means forsupporting and securing said members in position when the box is set up.Novel means are also provided for supporting the piano within the boxand in securing the same in place.

any other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts willappear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa perspective of the box set upand closed, supposedly containing a piano. ready for shipment; Fig. 2.isa similar view showing the empty box with the lower lid raised to showconstruction; Fig. 3 'is aperspective showing the box collapsed with theexception of one of the sides, the means for locking the box in itsknocked down state being omitted to prevent confusion; Fig. 4: is a 1rear elevation of the box; Fig. 5 is an en larged detall showing themethod of hinging together the lid and front and of securing showing onevof the hook bolts by meansof which the top is secured to the sides wheni the box is set up; Fig. is an enlarged detail of the structure shownin Fig. 2' showing the method .of securing the front to the bottom whenthe box is set up and also the means of supporting the front ends of therails from the. bottom; Fig. 11 is an enlarged broken planshowing themethod of locking the two sides together and down upon the remainingelementswhen the box is knocked down; Fig.v 12 is anenlarged detail ofthe sliding'shutter attached to the inner face of the back to sealunused lag screw holes; Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail in perspectiveshowing the method of hinging folded or collapsed, while Fig. 14 is asimilar. view showing the side set up; Fig. 15 is a vertical sectionalong the line XX XV in Fig. 16 showing the method of hinging the bottomto the back; Fig.16 is a view of the same taken along the line XVI- XVIin Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a broken side elevation showing the mounting ofthe-rear ends of the rails upon the bottom, and Fig. 18 is a broken planview showing the mounting of the front end of the rails upon the bottomThe following is a detailed description of the drawings.

base or foundation of the structure; B and B are the sides which arehinged to the back; C is the bottom hinged to the back; D is the tophinged to the back; 'E is the lid hinged to the top and F is the fronthinged to the lid. The back A iscomposed of edge angle-irons 1- andvertical and transverse angle-iron braces 2 y 7 3 are the corner platesconnecting adjathe sides to the back,'the side being shown V 100 A isthe back of the box which forms the I cent ends of angle-irons. Securedto the inner faces of said angle-irons is a filling of fiber board 4 Itwill be observed that while the free flanges of the angle-irons 2 and ofthe horizontal top angle-iron 1 extend rearwardly or outwardly from theinterior of the box, the angle-irons 1 at the vertical side edges andthe horizontal bottom edge of theback extend forwardly to engage thebottom andsides of the box when the latter is set up. The sides B and Bare similarly composed of edge angle-irons 1 and transverse andhorizontal. cross bracing angle-irons 2 3 are the corner plates and 4the fiber filling. The free flanges of the angle-irons of said sides,except those of the top and bottom angle-irons 1 are turned outwardly,that is away from the interior of the box.

5 are brackets secured tothe corners of the backA and provided withslideways 6 which have at their outer ends headed pins 7 which engagethe slotted plates Ssecured to the rear of the top and bottom of thesides B and B. By this means said sides are pivotally connected to theback in such a manner that before being folded down upon the otherelements when the box is collapsed, they may first be drawn away fromthe back and then folded down parallel with the latter so that a spaceis left between the said sides and back to contain the top and lid andfront.

The bottom C is composed of edge angleirons 1 and transverse andintermediate angle-irons 2. The free flanges of said angle-irons areupturned and to the outer or lower face of the same is secured the sheetor plate metal bottom 4. When the box is set up, the bottom G occupiesthe position shown in Fig. 2, its rear and side edge angleirons 1nesting in the bottom angle-irons of the back and sides, thus supportingthe bottom and its burden by the back and sides.

9 represents a pair of elevated rails supported by and runningtransversely of the bottom C to support the base of the piano with itscasters out of contact with the bottom proper and the rails. Said railsare preferably of substantially inverted U-shape in cross-section andare supported as follows: The front end of a rail is attached thus. 10is a vertical plate riveted to the free flange of the front angle-iron 1and to such plate 10 is riveted a three sided bracket 11 extendinghorizontally and embracing the forward end of the rail 9 and rivetedthereto. The rear end of the rail is embraced by and riveted to athree-sided bracket 12 which in turn is riveted to the free flange ofthe rear edge angle-iron 1 of the bottom. Vertical slots 13 are providedin the bracket 12 and the rail 9, as shown in Fig. 17 14: is a similarbracket riveted to one of the vertical angle-irons 2 of the back A. andextending inwardly through an aperture in the filling P to embrace theupper portion of the bracket 12 and the end of-the rail 9. registeringholes in the bracket 14 and the slots 13, thus by means of the two railspivoting the bottom C- to the back A. By means of slots 13, the weightof the bottom and its burden, when the box is set up does not rest onthe hinges but upon the flanges along the bottom edges of the back andsides as before stated.

The top D is formed of edge angle-irons 1 and such transverse braceswhich may be considered necessary. As the construction and arrangementof the latter is sufficiently illustrated in the showing of the otherelements, the same are omitted in the case of the top for the sake ofclearness. The free flanges of the angle-irons 1 are inturned ordownturned, as shown in Fig. 7 and 4 is the filling of fiber boardsecured to said angleirons.

lVhen the box is set up, the top edge angle-iron 1 of the back A nestsin the rear edge angle-iron 1 of the top, while the side edgeangle-irons 1 of the top nest in the top angle irons l of the sides Band B". The

top edges of the sides are given a forward.

slope so as to incline the top of the boxto shed water. 16 representshinges having their plates inserted between the flanges of the angleirons 1 and P, as shown in Fig. 7 and riveted thereto respectively, saidflanges being bent apart slightly to admit of the hinge. Thus the topwhen raised, and the box set up, rests upon the top edge of the back,while in knocking down the box, said lid maybe dropped down flat againstthe inside face of the said back.

17 are hook bolts provided with wing nuts 18 and extending through thetop angleiron l of the sides and slots 19 in the top and adapted toengage the depending flanges of the side angle-ir0ns 1 By turning thebolts 90 degrees and tightening the nuts, the bolts may be lockedtightly in place as shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

The front of the box is provided with a closure by means of which thebox is inclosed when in use. Said closure is in two parts hingedtogether and comprising the lid E hinged to the top D and the front Fhinged to the lid E.

The lid E is hinged at its top edge to the front edge of top D and iscomposed of a fiber-board filling 4 framed by edge angle-. irons 1 andtransverse angle-irons 2 and corner plates 3 the free flanges of theangleirons being out turned.

20 are the hinges whose plates are inwardly inserted between the topangle-iron of the lid E and the front angle-iron of the top D andriveted as'shown in Fig. 7. The

A pin 15 extends through flanges of the sides of lid E are provided withhook bolts 21 having wing nuts 22, which hook bolts when the lid isclosed in place engage with and are tightened up against the side edgeflanges of the sides BandBC' .The front F is of similar construction,

being composed of edge angle-iron 1 trans verse angle-irons? and cornerplates 3 4 representing the fiber-board filling. Said front F is hingedto the bottom edge of lid E by means of hinges 23- as shown in Fig. 7,and the lower edge ofthe front. F is provided with locking bolts 24%which when said lid is closed engage the slottedbra'ckets 25 on thefront edge of the bottom C. The front F is also similarly securable tothe sides B and B", as is the case with lid E, hook bolts 21 andwingnuts 22 being provided for that purpose.

To hold the piano rigidly in place in the box during shipment andhandling, lag screws extending through the back of the box and engagingthe :back of the piano, similar to those used in the case of theordinary wooden box, are provided. As the height of various makes andsizes of pianos vary, I provide for the accommodation of the upper ortop lag screws a plurality of holes 26 arranged in vertical rows throughthe vertical angle-irons 2 of the back at either side and through thefiber 4. Thus the lag screws may be inserted at the proper height toproperly engage the piano. To close the holes 26 which may not beengaged by lag screws I secure a sliding channel plate 27 attached tothe inner face of the fiber 4 in alinement with each vertical row ofholes 26. Said plate isslidingly held in place by means of bolts 28extending through the back A which by tightening hold the channel platein place to seal the unused holes 26. The plate is provided with holes29 so spaced that when one of the holes 29 registers with one of theholes 26 to admit the entrance of a lag screw, the remaining holes 26 ofthe row are sealed against the entrance of dirt or moisture.

Holes 26 are also provided through the angle-irons 2 for the lower lagscrews. The horizontal cross-braces 2 of the sides-B and B are providedwith holes 30 so that workmen may use the usual hooks in lifting andmoving the box and its contents. 1

To hold the collapsed box together for shipment, I may use anyconvenient means. I have indicated in Fig.11 a strap 31 secured to theouter face of the side B by means of headed pin 32 which engages a slot33 in said strap. The other end of the strap is provided with a bayonetslot 34 which may engage a headed pin 35 on the. outer face of the otherside B. The sides may thus be locked down upon the rest of the elements.I have shown as a convenient ,structurethe framework of the elementscomposed of V angle-iron but it will be understood that said term asused includes also channels, bent or pressed plates or other shapes.

The useof my box is as follows: Assum- 111g the box to contain a pianoto be closed as in Fig. 1, the bolts 24: and21 are loosened anddisengaged from the brackets 25 and flanges l respectively and the frontfolded up against the lid, as" shown in Fig. 2. Both front and lid arethen raised and laid back on the top. The lag screws are then loosenedand the piano pulled forwardly outof the box. To collapse the box, it islaid on its back and the. bottom, C folded down on i the latter. Thebolts 17 are then loosened and turned to disengage them from the flanges1 and .7 to permit their passage through the slots 19 in the top, andthe top is then folded down on theback A and the folded together lid andfront laidon the bottom C. The sides B and B. are next folded down uponthe top and front. To

set up the box, the two sides are first unfolded and run back intoplace. The front andlid arethen lifted from the bottomand the latterturned down into engagement with The front and lid are then unfoldedfrom the top, and thelatter raised and secured to the sides and thefront and lid may then be unfolded and secured in place by means of thebottom flanges of the back and sides.

the bolts 21 and 2d. The bolts 17 are used i invention shown in thedrawings, I do not wish to limit myself thereby but I claim broadly'V 1. A collapsible box consisting of back; sides hinged to said back; abottom hinged to said back and adapted-to foldup against the same butwhen extended being support ed by the bottom edges of said back andsides; a top hinged to said back and adapted to fold downagainstthe'sam'e but when extended being supported .by said sides, and aclosure hinged to said top and adapted to fold down upon said bottom butwhen extended being secured'to said sides, and said sides when collapsedfolding down upon said bottom, top and closure.

2. A collapsible boxeconsisting sides'hinged to said back; a. bottomhinged to said back and adapted to'fold. up against the same but whenextended beingsupportof a back;

ed by the bottom edges of said sides and back; a top hinged to said backand adapted to be folded down against the same but When extended beingsupported from above by said sides; a lid hinged to said top and adaptedto be folded down upon said bottom, and a front hinged to said lid andadapted to be folded up against the same, said sides when collapsedfolding down upon said bottom, top, lid and front.

3. A collapsible box consisting of elements associated together inhinged relationship, said elements comprising a back; a bottom hinged tosaid back and adapted to be folded up against thesame; top hinged tosaid back and adapted to be folded down against the same; a closurehinged to the front edge of said top and adapted to be folded down uponsaid bottom, sides, and sliding hinged connection between said sides andsaid back permitting said sides to be drawn away from said back beforefolding whereby said sides may be folded flat upon said bottom, top andclosure.

4. A collapsible box consisting of elements associated together inhinged relationship, said elements'comprising a back; a bottom hinged tosaid back and adapted to be folded up against the same; a top hinged tosaid back and adapted to be folded down against the same; a lid hingedto said top and adapted to be folded down on said bottom a front hingedto said lid and adapted. to be folded back on said lid, sides, andsliding hinged connection between said sides and said back permittingsaid sides to be drawn away from said back before folding whereby saidsides may be folded flat upon said bottom, top, lid and front.

5. In a collapsible box, a back; a top hinged to said back; a lid hingedto said top; a bottom hinged to said back; a pair of sides; bracketsextending forwardly from said back and provided with slideways; pins atthe outer ends of said slideways, and slotted plates attached to saidsides and engaged by said pins, for the purpose described.

6. In a collapsible box, a back; a bottom hinged to said back andadapted to be folded up against the same; a top hinged to said. back andadapted to be folded down against the same; a closure-hinged to said topand adapted to be folded down on sa d bottom; sides hinged to said backand adapted to be folded down on said top; bottom and closure, saidsides being provided with edge flanges, and hook bolts mounted on saidclosure and adapted to engage said flanges when said box is set up.

7. In a collapsible box, a back; a bottom hinged to said back'andadapted to be folded up against the same; a top hinged to said back andadapted to be folded down against 8. A collapsible box consisting of aback;

sides hinged to said back and having inwardly extending top and bottomflanges; a bottom hinged to said back and resting when extended uponsaid bottom. flanges; a top hinged to said back and bearing upwardlywhen extended against said top flanges; a closure hinged to said top,and means for securing said box in its set up condition.

9. In a collapsible box, a back; sides hinged to said back; a top hingedto said back; a closure hinged to said top; a bottom; Vertical supportsmounted on said bot tom; load supporting rails mounted on said supports,and pivotal connection between,

said rails and said back.

10. In a collapsible box, a back; a top hinged to said back; sideshinged to said back: a bottom; rails rigidly mounted on said bottom andhaving slots in their rear ends; brackets extending inwardly from saidback; said brackets and said slots and a closure hinged to said top.

11. In a collapsible box, a back; sides hinged to said back; said sidesbeing provided with inturned bottom flanges; a top hinged to said back;a bottom adapted to rest on said bottom flanges when said box is set up;vertical supports mounted on said bottom; rails rigidly mounted on saidsupports and pivotally attached to said back, and a closure hinged tosaid top.

12. In a collapsible box, a back, sides hinged to'said back, said sidesand back being provided with inturned bottom flanges; a top hinged tosaid back; a closure hinged to said top; a bottom adapted to rest uponsaid bottom flanges when the box-is set up, and rails rigidly mounted onsaid bottom and pivotally connected with said back by means of pin andslot connection; said pivotal connection being such that the Weight ofsaid bottom is carried by said flanges when the box is set up.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this 16th day of March, 1914:.

lVAYNE RAW'LEY. ll itnesses:

E. A. LAURENCE, JOHN ldoKnLvni.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatentl,

Washington, D. G.

pivot pins extending through

